CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY is a city in Camden County, New Jersey. Located just across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Camden is a former industrial boom-town that has fallen onto hard times. Decades of disinvestment and government mismanagement have contributed to Camden's sky-high crime rate, and many of the city's neighborhoods are hotbeds of gang- and drug-related violence. However, the government has, in recent years, begun developing the Delaware River waterfront, which is now a popular and well-traveled tourist destination offering grand views of the Philadelphia skyline and a multitude of activities for adults and children alike. Headlines about violence and crime in Camden may dissuade many tourists to the Philadelphia area from visiting, but a one-day trip to the waterfront may be well-worth the trip.

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Get in

By bus

Some Greyhound buses that traverse the New York City-Philadelphia corridor make a stop in downtown Camden at the Walter Rand Transportation Center. From there, you can hop on the River LINE light rail, which will take you directly to the waterfront area.

By car

From Philadelphia, take the Ben Franklin Bridge or Walt Whitman Bridge to New Jersey. Camden is directly across from Philadelphia.

From New York and Northern New Jersey, take the Turnpike to Route 73 North (Exit 4). Take I-295 South to Exit 26. Follow the signs for I-676 and Camden.

From Delaware, take the Delaware Memorial Bridge to New Jersey. Take I-295 North to Exit 26. Follow the directions from New York and Northern New Jersey.

By plane

The nearest major airport is the Philadelphia International Airport, which is about 20 minutes away. From the airport, you may either take a cab (which will be costly), or use public transportation. By train, take the SEPTA R1 Airport Line to the Market East Station, then walk five blocks to the 8th and Market PATCO station. From there, take the PATCO Hi-Speed Line into Camden.

By train

The PATCO Hi-Speed Line[3] is a heavy rail line that operates between Center City Philadelphia and Camden County, New Jersey. The train operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Fares are determined by distance traveled.

The River LINE[4] is a light rail line that operates between Trenton and Camden. Trains run every 15 minutes during rush hour, every half hour at other times. Trains run until roughly 1am on Saturday and midnight on other days.

BY BoAT

The RiverLink FerryFile:Ferryboat.jpg
From May through September, the RiverLink Ferry is the most entertaining way of crossing the Delaware River when visiting the Camden Waterfront and historic Penn's Landing. Enjoy the scenic view atop the open deck of the double-decker Ferry or take cover inside the sheltered cabin. It's also a great location for a private party. The ferry runs between Penn's Landing in Center City Philadelphia and the Camden waterfront. Boats run hourly between the two points. Express service to the Susquehanna Bank Center is available when events are held there, and ferries run until 30 minutes after the event ends.

RiverLink Ferry
215-925-LINK
www.riverlinkferry.org

Get around

By car

This is the easiest way to get around Camden. There is ample parking in the waterfront area.

By RiverLine

A train that you can use for travelling the downtown and riverfront areas.

By foot

Most of the worthwhile attractions in Camden are clustered in the Riverfront and Rutgers areas, so walking is an option.

By taxi

THINGS TO DO/PLACES TO GO!

USS Battleship New Jersey Museum
Be sure to march aboard the USS New Jersey Battleship & Museum, the U.S. Navy’s most decorated battleship, and pay tribute to the thousands of soldiers that fought for our nation’s freedom.

Discover the dangerous and exciting life of a sailor as you take a guided tour aboard the “Big J.” Hear tales of its missions in World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War and Persian Gulf War, then experience combat firsthand as you engage the new 4-D Flight Simulator, a jaw-dropping ride that lets you fly your own Seahawk plane into a dog fight with the enemy and land on the water next to the battleship.

Then, tour the radar and sonar-tracking stations featuring dramatic videos of actual Tomahawk missile launches. To recover from all of the fighting, plan to spend the night on board the ship as part of the overnight encampment program.

62 Battleship Place
Camden, NJ 08103
1-856-966-1652

Walt Whitman House
The only house famed poet Walt Whitman ever owned is a National Historic Landmark. The small house, now a museum dedicated to the legacy of this great American poet, contains a giant collection of original letters, personal belongings, photographs and furnishings. Not far from the house is historic Harleigh Cemetery, Whitman's final resting place.

Walt Whitman House
328 Mickle Blvd.
Camden, NJ 08103
856-964-5383

Wiggins Park and Marina
Located between the Adventure Aquarium and the Battleship, Wiggins Park & Marina features a 50-slip marina, a promenade along the Delaware River and outdoor concerts on its Riverstage to serve as the perfect location for summer strolls and barbeques, or views of the River and Philadelphia skyline year round.

A hot spot for free concerts and Waterfront festivals, including the annual Sunset Jazz Series, , boaters can also dock boats up to 30 feet long for the day, week, month or season.
Wiggins Park & Marina
Mickle Blvd. at the River
856-541-7222 or 856-216-2118
www.ccparks.com

Adventure Aquarium, 1 Aquarium Drive, Camden, NJ 08103, ☎856-365-3300, [2]. Explore life under the ocean at this 200,000 square foot aquarium. Come tooth to tooth with sharks in a suspended 40-foot walk through tunnel immersed in 550,000 gallons of water.

Adventure Aquarium
You may just forget once you dive into the Adventure Aquarium — the most exciting underwater experience you can have without growing gills! Once you enter, you're in their world now! You’ll find yourself surrounded by over two-dozen sharks in the new 550,000-gallon Shark Realm. Then, dive into the deepest, darkest parts of the ocean in the new 4-D Theater - presented by PSE&G - and come face-to-teeth with some of the most amazing underwater creatures known to man!

With nearly double its previous exhibit space and a host of new creatures from land, air and sea, Adventure Aquarium will lead you through an underwater world complete with the West African River Experience (home to the only two hippos inside an aquarium and a free-flight aviary), a 40-foot, walk-through shark tunnel and the Jules Verne Gallery, where you will discover all kinds of exotic and wonderful animals.

Campbell's FieldHome of the Camden Riversharks minor league baseball team
When the kids yell “take me out to the ball game,” head over to the state-of-the-art Campbell’s Field, home of the Camden Riversharks minor league baseball team.

Now in its 6th season, the whole family can enjoy major fun at a minor price in a dynamic setting voted “Park of the Year” two years running by Baseball America. Thrill in the exciting action in one of the 6,500 seats that make you feel like you hit a home run! Take the kids into the Utz Fun Zone or a trip around the bases after the game; then check out the fireworks show that lights up the night sky after every Friday night home game!

Camden Children's Garden
The Camden Children’s Garden is not just a kid-sized fantasyland; it is a giggle-fest just waiting to happen!

Explore this special place where the young and young at heart play and discover the natural world. Hop aboard the miniature train for a ride through The Storybook Garden, find a flurry of activity inside the Butterfly House, take a spin on the Carousel and explore the Dinosaur Garden, where you'll find an Apatosaurus made of car parts or dig in a sandpit for old dinosaur bones.

Susquehanna Bank Center
Hosts live entertainment and concerts, including such big-name bands as Earth, Wind and Fire.
Headlining the hottest acts in music, the
Susquehana Bank Center is a 25,000-seat outdoor amphitheater that features eye-popping views of the Philadelphia skyline.

During the summer, it serves as the perfect place to spread out a blanket under the stars for evening concerts featuring the latest and greatest musicians on tour. During the fall and winter months, the Susquehana Bank Center transforms into an enclosed, climate-controlled, 1,600–7,000 seat theater featuring concerts, Broadway productions and family-friendly entertainment.

Buy

Eat

Drink

The vast majority of drinking establishments in Camden are dive bars and may not be safe. It is recommended to go into Philadelphia for the bar scene.

Sleep

There are no major hotels in Camden. Most visitors find accommodations in Philadelphia or in outlying towns, such as Cherry Hill.

Stay Safe

While Camden is getting better safety-wise, it is still one of the most crime-ridden cities in the United States. It is advised not to wander past the riverfront and Rutgers areas.

Get out

The historical, large city of Philadelphia is right across the river from Camden. Just take the Ben Franklin bridge or the PATCO high-speed line to get into Philadelphia.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!